Update: Some more rooting around in the 1.8 patch code has led to a fresh discovery: spears. Several references to spear attack animations were found, which is encouraging news for players felt like their weapons were just too short. Hopefully their are some more Dragonborn surprised remaining in the Skyrim patch code.

The nerds have completed their inspection of every line of code in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's latest patch, and hints at upcoming DLC have been found! Touchdown! Fragments of data were found referencing a number of potential addition, but as always these details are simply rumors. It's impossible to tell if any of this is something Bethesda will be releasing, if its meant to be a red herring, or if it's meant for a different DLC pack down the line. Nevertheless, here's what we know about 'Dragonborn'.

Dragonborn, as its referenced in the code, takes place on the island of Solstheim -- east of Skyrim and northwest of Vvardenfell, but not belonging to any territory in particular. One can only assume there will be dragons on Solstheim, because Dragonborn will apparently give the ability to ride said dragons.

It is more than a 100 years later right? Maybe Hircine would be back. Another Bloodmoon?

But I find it strange that they would revisit Solstheim. They have never revisited any territories before. They've always moved onto different ones.

I do believe the Bloodmoon has already passed... then again the only reason I think that is because of a certain quest involving Hircine.

Solstheim is definitely interesting being as it's one of the only places in Tamriel that is really up in the air on where it's allegiances are (before the war of course). It's now supposedly been gifted to the Dunmer, but if anyone has played Bloodmoon before they would agree that it's definitely more Nordic and even Imperial than it is Dunmeric.

Another interesting thing is that throughout Skyrim they never really took advantage of the Dunmer v Nords. I mean they only had like 60 Dunmer in Skyrim so there wasn't really a lot to expand on. Where as in Morrowind it was a bit more evident that the Dunmer hate the Nords and want them to go burn rather than go to a Mead Hall.

If dragon riding is only a cutscene it would be extremely disappointing, I don't see myself using that feature. Being able to ride a dragon might solve that 'Mountain ahead, oh sh!t' part. What I'd actually want, is the followers to have a horse first, from a roleplaying point of view I can understand Lydia walking on foot carrying the Dova's burdens, but Cicero with his tiny feet?

Lyonnais No worries, I've been down that road myself. I get what you mean I'd be like Link teaming up with Vaati to defeat Ganon.

Dragons are easily the smartest enemies in the game by far and certainly far smarter than your horse, but it would be interesting to see how they would explain it in the game. As for actually riding them they could have it so you have to prove yourself to it first.

What Lyonnais mentioned on the 1st page sounds probable to me. The dragon riding being more like a cutscene/fast-travel kinda thing rather than being similar to riding horses. It would certainly be a lot easier to implement and fit with what we have so far.

Zombie_Barioth - Hah, sorry if you got that impression from me. I just think it's silly to fly a behemoth that's the main enemy of the game. And it seems odd a Dragon would offer himself you to be his ride when they have to 1) have great respect for you and 2) not be scared shitless of you.

I find it rather selfish to say that just because you don't like/want something nobody else should get to have it either. If you don't like it then don't buy it, but don't complain about it being there for the people that do (not calling anyone selfish, talking about the if I can't have it nobody can mentality here). Flying doesn't give you the same experience as walking but why should it, whats the point if it doesn't offer anything new?. I don't have a problem with fast travel as long as its for long distances, such as to the other side a map.

Having a dragon for a companion is a good idea if its in the same manner as the horse, with a shout that commands it a la Epona's Song. I wonder if there would be a good way to let you pick and change the dragon you have without interrupting normal game play while still making sense.

Lyonnais Flying a dragon is hardly fast travel. Fast travel is a loading screen and teleportation. Flying a dragon is like riding a horse. But more awesome.

Uh, you're flying in the air and you're 100x faster than a horse. You get a birds eye view of everything, but you can't see the detail that makes walking... walking. You can't pick up butterfly's, you can't stop on a dime. You obviously won't be able to see anything inside the cities/land in them.

What if you run into a Dragon in the air? Are they really going to give you command over a Dragon's attacks? Hell, landing that thing would be a pain in the ass and would require a long ass animation. When you finally get off what's the Dragon going to do? Fight for you? How gamebreaking is that? What would be the point of calling a Dragon to fight for you in a shout when you can just have one as a companion.

I'm sorry but riding Dragon's is silly. If you want to ride one whenever you want, by all means go get a mod on PC but keep it out of the actual DLC and expansions.

If they are going to have a Dragon become rideable I suspect they're it'll be like fast travel and can only take you too Solstheim. Riding a Dragon is a special thing, and not just something you can ride like a horse.